Contract Compliance

Foster and expand the participation of traditionally disadvantaged businesses in Commission projects

Bidders and consultants are encouraged to meet or exceed 25% participation targets of traditionally disadvantaged businesses in commission contracts through the use of Identified Business Enterprises (IBEs) in their contracts.

An IBE is any duly-certified business enterprise acceptable to the Commission. These include – but are not limited to – Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Women Business Enterprise (WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Veteran Business Enterprise (VBE), or Disabled Business Enterprise (DsBE).

Under the program, bidders and consultants are encouraged to meet or exceed 25 percent participation targets of IBEs in their respective contracts with the Commission. However, bidders and consultants may comply with the program’s policy aims so long as they make – and document – “good faith efforts” to allow for IBE participations in the their Commission-issued contracts. The Commission will monitor the participation of IBEs in Commission projects and will periodically report on participation and compliance.

IBE Participation Forms

The Commission requires certain forms to be completed as part of a submission of a bid or proposal. Download Forms

Online Compliance Reporting (Elation Systems)

Effective January 2017, the Commission began using Elation Systems as the online system for Payment Verification and Certified Payroll Reporting. No fees are required. Online training on how to use Elation Systems is available and should be utilized. This is a mandatory requirement. Learn more about compliance reporting requirements.

The Commission does not accept Self-Certifications

A business that is a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation which is at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by one or more persons who are African-American, Latino or Asian-American; and whose management and daily operations are controlled by one or more of the African-Americans, Hispanics or Asian-Americans who own it.

A business that is a sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture or corporation which is at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by a woman or women; and whose management and daily operations are controlled by one or more of the women.

Is at least 51 percent owned by one or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged, or in the case of a corporation, in which 51 % of the stock is owned by one or more such individuals.
(Note: Owners must be able to establish at least 51% ownership through real and substantial investment of capital.)

Whose management and daily business operations are controlled by one or more of the socially and economically disadvantaged individuals who own it.
(Note: Owners must possess the power and expertise to control the daily operations and management of the firm.)

Meets all certification criteria under 49 CFR Part 26.
(Note: Socially disadvantaged individuals are people the federal government has concluded, based on historical and anecdotal evidence, may be subject to racial or ethnic prejudice or cultural bias within American society because of their identity as members of a group, without regard to their individual qualities.)

Groups presumed by the federal government to be socially disadvantaged include women, African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans, Native-Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, and Asian-Indian.

To qualify as a DBE, owners must be able to document that their adjusted personal net worth does not exceed $750,000, after excluding the individual’s ownership interest in the firm and the equity value of the individual’s primary residence.

The disadvantaged owner must be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident of the United States.

The firm must meet U.S. DOT gross receipt averaged over a three-year period of no more than $17.42 million, as it may be adjusted by the Secretary of Transportation from time to time.

New Jersey Small Business Set-Aside Program’s criteria as set forth in N.J.A.C. 17:13 and/or 17:14 are as follows:

For goods and services contracts, small businesses with no more than 100 full-time employees will be registered in one of the following three categories:

Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed $500,000

Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed $5 million

Small businesses whose gross revenues do not exceed $12 million or the applicable federal revenue standards established at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, whichever is higher, as may be adjusted periodically

For state construction contracts, small businesses with no more than 100 full-time employees will be registered in one of the following three (3) categories:

Small businesses with gross revenues that do not exceed $3 million.

Small businesses with gross revenues that do not exceed 50% of the applicable annual revenue standards set forth in federal regulation at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, and as may be adjusted periodically.

Small business with gross revenues that do not exceed the applicable annual revenue standards set forth in federal regulation at 13 CFR 121.201, incorporated herein by reference, as may be adjusted periodically.

The business must be independently owned and operated, with management being responsible for both its daily and long-term operation, as well as owning at least 51 percent interest in the business.

Businesses must be incorporated or registered with the Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services to do business in the State and have its principal place of business in New Jersey, defined when:

51 percent or more of its employees work in New Jersey supported by paid New Jersey unemployment taxes or;

51% or more of its business operations/activities occur in New Jersey supported by income and/or business tax returns.

The business must be a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company or corporation with 100 or fewer employees in full-time positions, not including:

Seasonal and part-time employees employed for less than 90 days, if seasonal and casual part-time employment are common to that industry and

Consultants employed under contracts for which the business wants to be eligible as a small business.

The Veteran owner(s) have direct, unconditional ownership of at least 51percent of the company (38 CFR 74.3) and have full decision making authority (38 CFR 74.4 (g));

The Veteran manages the company on both a strategic policy and a day-to-day basis (38 CFR 74.4); The Veteran holds the highest officer position (38 CFR 74.4(c) (2));

The Veteran should be the highest compensated employee unless there is a logical explanation otherwise, submitted by the Veteran as to how taking a lower salary than other employee(s) helps the business (38 CFR 74.4 (g) (3));

And The Veteran has the managerial experience of the extent and complexity needed to manage the company. The Applicant bears the burden of proof of adequately establishing its claimed status.

Julio Guridy was appointed by the Commission in 2013 to create, implement and administer a new Commission department charged with the responsibility of promoting and monitoring the integration of designated business enterprises in the Commission’s Capital Improvement Program projects. He previously served as the Commission’s director of Compact Authorized Investments, a grant program that financed eligible local transportation projects between 2005 and 2012. Julio has a multi-faceted background in public service, the private sector and Hispanic advocacy. A city council member in Allentown, PA. since 2001, Julio has served as that body’s president since 2012. His private sector experience includes work as a community development officer for two banks, ownership of a travel agency, and partnership in a real estate investment firm. Julio holds an MA in sociology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a BA in sociology from East Stroudsburg University. A member of multiple civic and professional organizations, he has served as commissioner on the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, vice president of the Dominican American National Roundtable, and president of the Hispanic Business Council.

Christine Baker has been employed by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission since 2004 and became manager of the Contract Compliance Program in 2014. She previously administered the Commission’s inaugural efforts to enhance business opportunities for minority- and woman-owned companies and small business, beginning with a successful pilot program launched in 2008. Christine has a wealth of previous administrative experience in the public and private sectors and in community service. Her career has included working as director of human resources at America Coming Together; manager of the collections and quality control departments at St. Hill and Associates, the largest African-American collections company in the country; and supervisor of customer service and collections for PECO Energy. Christine has a BA from Neumann University and an MBA from Rosemont College. A license real estate agent and a member of the National Notary Association, she has served as president and CEO of the Young Women’s Social Network and a youth group volunteer.